|
Interview with Rob
Malda
Creator of Slashdot
By Douglas Chick
 Most
computer people already know what Slashdot.org is, but many do not know the
man behind it. Rob Malda is the founder of Slashdot.org and is still around
today to help run the news site for geeks. Slashdot was founded in 1997 and
like the name implies, Slashdot started as a Linux form and has evolved into one of the largest tech news sites on the Internet. Rob took
time from his still busy schedule to answer a few questions for TheNetworkAdministrator.com.
TheNetworkAdministrator:
There is a Slashdot Japan? How did that come about and are there plans for Slashdot in any other countries?
Rob Malda:
VA has a partnership with VA Japan. As part of that they created a Japanese Slashdot,
SourceForge, and Linux.com. There are currently no plans for Slashdot's in other countries, although I think it would be
cool to try.
TheNetworkAdministrator:
Does Slashdot have offices or do you and your staff work from home?
Rob Malda:
We're fairly distributed, although a few of us work in an office in Ann
Arbor.
TheNetworkAdministrator:
Where does your moderation staff come from?
Rob Malda:
Moderators are selected from our readers based on a complex series of rules.
TheNetworkAdministrator:
Who are the main body of your readers?
Rob Malda:
Techies.
TheNetworkAdministrator:
Is there another project that you are more proud of that doesn't get the recognition that Slashdot does?
Rob Malda:
Nothing else I have done has come close to the huge success of Slashdot. Frankly it is what I do best, so I don't think anything else I've done deserves more recognition. But I'm proud of many things I've done over the years. I've been involved with many very interesting websites over the years and while none of them has been so successful,
each was fun in its own way.
TheNetworkAdministrator:
You have a monthly column on CPU magazine. How did that come about and what type of stuff do you enjoy writing the most?
Rob Malda:
They asked me to write a column and I figured it would be fun to get my writing in print. I like writing whatever comes into my head at the time, so I think the stuff I probably enjoy writing the most is my blog.
TheNetworkAdministrator:
What is Geeks in Space and where can people download the show from?
Rob Malda:
Geeks in Space was an internet radio show we recorded for a couple years. It was very fun, quite funny, and way off the beaten path of what I normally get to do. slashdot.org/radio has links, but we haven't recorded anything in like 3 years.
TheNetworkAdministrator:
Who's your favorite Charlie's Angel? (I'm just kidding) No
really?
Rob Malda:
ah. ok.
TheNetworkAdministrator:
Do you sometimes feel like you've created a monster that you can't control?
Rob Malda:
Every day, but I don't feel the need to control it more than just a little. I can only steer Slashdot a little. I wouldn't want to "Control" it.
TheNetworkAdministrator:
What is your favor feature of Slashdot?
Rob Malda:
I still think Slashdot's best feature is it's first: Stories. Lots of them.
TheNetworkAdministrator:
What are your hobbies?
Rob Malda:
Anime, Movies, D&D, Writing, Drawing, Guitar, Video Games, Just playing with computers and the internet.
TheNetworkAdministrator:
There have been many attempts to duplicate Slashdot's success, but most have failed to achieve your popularity; what do you attribute your success to?
Rob Malda:
We were first to market in a unique niche. We did it better than
anyone else before anyone even tried to nip at our heals and by then, we were large enough that it didn't matter.
TheNetworkAdministrator:
In your opinion, what do you prize the most; the popularity with Slashdot, or the architecture of the server and network set
up that support so many hits?
Rob Malda:
I can't separate the 2 things in my mind. Each caused the other. Both are amazing in their own way.
TheNetworkAdministrator:
How much has Slashdot changed since its incarnation?
Rob Malda:
We post more stories. More users read it. We have vastly more complex and interesting
moderation. The hardware is dozens of machines where once there was just one. We have a half dozen people posting stories & editing the bin instead of just me.
TheNetworkAdministrator:
What other websites do you have?
Rob Malda:
CmdrTaco.net
TheNetworkAdministrator:
Is Anime still your favorite hobby?
Rob Malda:
It still consumes far too much of my time.
TheNetworkAdministrator:
Does the success of Slashdot over shadow other ideas you might have, or too intimidating?
Rob Malda:
Not at all... I think it means that other projects I might have would have a powerful springboard. So when I release my Rock Opera, Sci-Fi Opera, or Television Show, people will pound down my door to get at it... ok, I'm probably making all that
stuff up ;)
TheNetworkAdministrator:
How far away does Slashdot seem from the first BBS board that you put together?
Rob Malda:
Strangely not that far. It's all just a matter of scale. At some level it's all identical.
TheNetworkAdministrator:
What are you hoping for in the last Star Wars movie?
Rob Malda:
I'm hoping for something that doesn't make me regret my childhood.
TheNetworkAdministrator:
What other projects can we expect from Rob Malda in the future?
Rob Malda:
I've already said to much.
TheNetworkAdministrator:
If you did have a favorite Charlie's Angel, which one would you participate in a naked pillow fight with? It's Lucy Lui, isn't it. I thought it might be.
Rob Malda:
Obsess lately?
|
|
E-mail
your comments to dougchick@thenetworkadministrator.com